a borough and port town of England, in the county of Kent, situated in E. Long. 0° 25'. N. Lat. 51° 10'. It sends two members to parliament styled barons of the Cinque ports, whereof Dover is the chief. Dover gave the title of duke in the Queenberry family, but extinct: now a revived barony in the York family.

By the Romans this town was named Dubris, and by the Saxons Dofra, probably from the British word Dour, which signifies water. The convenience of its situation drew the attention of the Roman governors, who ruled here while they possessed this part of the island; and there still remain indubitable testimonies of their care and respect for this important place. For the defence of the town, the Romans, or, according to some, Arviragus, a British king, their confederate, by cutting out walls with infinite labour in the solid rock, constructed a stony fortress; and, as its venerable remains still prove, erected also a lighthouse for the benefit of navigation. The Saxons, Danes, and Normans, had a very high opinion of this place; and when the barons invited over the young prince, afterwards Louis VIII. of France, his father Philip Augustus conceived a bad opinion of the expedition, because the castle and port of Dover were held for King John, though a great part of the kingdom had submitted to Louis. In its most flourishing state, the fortress was impregnable, and the town a very opulent emporium. It had 21 wards, each of which furnished a ship for the public service, 10 gates, 7 parish churches, many religious houses, hospitals, and other public edifices. The decay of the town was brought on by that of the harbour. To recover this, Henry VIII. spent no less than £3,000l. in constructing piers; and £500l. in building a castle between this and Folkestone, called Sandgate, where the shore was flat, and the landing easy. Notwithstanding all this expense, however, it was again choked up in the reign of Queen Elizabeth, by whom it was again cleared at a vast expense, so that ships of some hundreds tons could enter it. Since that time it has again declined, notwithstanding many efforts for its relief, and great assistance from time to time given by parliament for this purpose. As the haven, however, is still capable of receiving vessels of small burden; and as the packets to France and Flanders are stationed here in time of peace, it is still a place of some consequence, and the people are active and industrious.